San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-10-17

was sitting in a garden, and around
me were troops of girls. / heard the
rustic Of their dresses, caught the laugh
ter from their lips, watched the luster Of
their eyes, saw the moonlight dance
among their waving locks, as they ran
and played among the trees and flowers.
One of them sat by me and sang to a
guitar
Life is made for love. Ali why
Should its sweetness e'er be marredS
List the echoes will not die,
Still the sweet word love" to guard.
Naught but love Oh! happy youth,
Free from need of baser thought,
Stay with US, and learn this truth,
Set with song, with music wrought.
Thine is love, an endless feast;
Beauty-sweeter far than wine;
Joy, from lower cares released
Never star rose bright as thine.
knew, somehow or other, that this
was allegorical, and, as IL I expressed my
thought, the scene changed, and l was in
real life.
Chambers in London, such as had read
of, overlooking st. James park. sat in
them in the midst of books and pictures.
| had no business to call me away from
my indolent ease; had no anxiety about
the future. | got up and strolled about
the streets, looking at the shops. If
fancied a thing l bought it. went to
picture galleries and saw the latest works
of art; went to the theater and saw the
performance from comfortable box;
went riding in the park.
Then my fancy returned to my first
love, and | saw myself walking in a
country lane with Juliet. She was
sweeter to look upon than ever, and more
delightful in her frank and innocent love
for me. We rambled along under the
hedges while gathered flowers with her,
and talked of the happy, happy days when
we should be one, soon now to arrive, and
of the sweet, loving life which should be
ours far away from the troubles of the
world.
Dreams, idle dreams; but sweet to me,
after the agony of the last, as draught
of water to parched traveller on Sahara.
The pictures changed as fast as my
fancy wandered from one thing to an
other. In all | was the same-free from
the downward and earthly pressure of
want and hunger, relieved from anxiety,
with plenty Of money, and full of all
sweet and innocent faneies.
Lies again. But by what power could
this necromancer SO cheat and gull my
brain?
Every different scenes these, my dear
young friend,' he said, in a winning
voice, care they rot? Now" he went on,
and his voice was quite close to me, you
have had your five minutes"
The cloud passed from my eyes. was
sitting again in the octagonnl room, the
old man before me, watch in hand, us if
he was counting the secodds.
Give minutes and a quarter" he
grOwled. "NOw choose"
81 have chosen" replied. 81 accept
your offer
The influence of the things had seen
was too strong upon ME. l could neither
reason nor reflect
Il accept your offer"
"Why, that's brave" he said, with
gigantic sigh of relief That's what l
expected of you. Observation-Disclosures
de-neiger'
He clapped his hands.
Instantly the horrible old negro APP
peared behind his masters chair, as if he
had sprung from the ground. | believe
he had. He looked more like devil than
ever, grinning from ear to ear, and his
two eyes glowing in the candlelight like
two great Goals. The light fell, too, upon
the seams and wrinkles of his face, bring
ing them out like the hills and valleys in
a raised map. Strange as it all was to me,
this ancient servitor produced the
strangest effect upon me of anything.
"Boule-de-neige is witness for u.s." said
the old gentleman. "Boule-de-neige, this
young gentleman, Mr.. Luke Lucraft, is
about to sign little deed, to which, as a
matter of form, we require your signature
too as Witness"
"Cluckr' said the negro. "Dis young
gegleman berry lucky-him berry lucky.
What time massa take him dinner?'
"When do you think you shall be fairly
hungry again?n he asked me. "Now, no
boasting-no false pretense and pride
because it will be the worse for you.
Answer truthfully. 1t is now 81
81 should say that at should be able
to take some supper, and at 10 | shall
certainly be hungry again. AS an Ordi-
nary rule l should be ready great deal
earlier, but have taken such an immense
dinner"
Good" He turned to Boule-de-neige
lou sec the young man Is INQUEST anu
promises lalfIy. l slall nave supper
PlehIiIul SuPper-aC ~ PlIhcUually' MI
HIo l,i. Will u NV ~ SnS., a.
"Ln a. IL ~ Cile o"pt t anu 'ooA up 'i'e
pen, C put I ~, T"I nv mn , ILL,
Hiuch. saitt Iiie inlG Ina nesro, Win WIN
ino,her srih- cl"cA' MaSSa walt my
III.
ne look my te,I manu- III ms solt anu
,olo paw iei' sharp PrlcA III NY
"TlSt' -, >. =,
iou VIII oip 1he PEN saiu the old
Gentleman, IN the Oiood. III Is mere